Rutgers University names new student center for Tyler Clementi

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. — Rutgers University has announced it has named a new student named for Tyler Clementi, a gay student who jumped to his death in 2010 after his roommate used a webcam to record Clementi in an intimate encounter with another man.

Tyler Clementi

The university said the Tyler Clementi Center will build programs to help people transition to college, and will also offer lectures and training on social media, youth suicide, bullying and other topics.

The center is a collaboration with the Tyler Clementi Foundation, begun by the student’s parents.

A ceremony announcing the new center will be held Monday morning on the Piscataway, N.J. campus, according to school officials.

“The center will draw from academic disciplines across the university and throughout the nation to create new programs and approaches to address issues that confront young people — specifically youth making the transition from home to college” said
Rutgers officials, in an announcement about Monday’s dedication ceremony.

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Clementi, 18, jumped to his death from the George Washington bridge on Sept. 22, 2010 after his roommate, Dharun Ravi placed a camera in their dorm room three days earlier and streamed images onto the internet of Clementi’s intimate same-sex encounter, and used Twitter to encourage fellow students to watch.

Ravi was convicted last year of invasion of privacy, bias intimidation and other counts and served less than a month in jail. He is appealing his conviction.

Clementi’s death sparked a national conversation about the treatment of young gays — his parents, Jane and Joe Clementi of Ridgewood N.J., have become outspoken advocates for the acceptance of LGBT youth.